Absorber Water retainers for Soils and Substrates
Absorber is a water retainer that, when incorporated into a soil or a substrate, absorbs and retains large quantities of water and nutrients. Unlike most products that become hydrated, Absorber has the property of easily releasing the absorbed water and nutrients, thereby allowing the plant to have water and nutrients available at will as a function of the absorption – release cycles.
COMPOSITION
Absorber is a range of superabsorbent anionic polyacrylamide polymers. They are crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide and potassium acrylate that are water insoluble.
Absorber products have the property of absorbing up to 500 times their weight in distilled water and they become gels.
HOW IT WORKS
The polymer consists of a set of polymeric chains that are parallel to each other and regularly linked to each other by cross-linking agents, thus forming a network. When water comes into contact with one of these chains, it is drawn into the molecule by osmosis. Water rapidly migrates into the interior of the polymer network where it is stored. As the soil dries out, the polymer releases up to 95% of the absorbed water into the soil.
PERFORMANCES & ADVANTAGES
Absorber is offered in different particle sizes of which the absorption and release capacities vary depending on the conditions in the soil environment.
An outstanding absorption capacity: In general, the finer the particle size of the polymer, the greater its absorption capacity and speed.
A buffering effect on the availability of fertilizers: Absorber significantly reduces the leaching of fertilizers because they are stored in the network. The fertilizers are available to plants for a longer time due to a delay effect on their release.
The influence of salts: The presence of electrolytes in the aqueous medium significantly diminishes the absorption capacity of Absorber. This explains the fact that the water holding capacity of Absorber in a substrate varies around 100-150 times its weight.
The wilting point is delayed: Absorber makes it possible to increase the Water Holding Capacity of soils and to delay the wilting point. A sandy soil treated with 2 grams of Absorber per kg of soil holds water twice as long as untreated soil.
